European autos rise as April sales up 4.1%

LONDON (CBS.MW) -- The European auto sector
SXAP, -0.19%
moved in line with rising markets Thursday as Western European passenger registrations rose 4.1 percent in April, the ACEA trade group said. Growth in Italy, Spain and Germany boosted European growth, while sales in France and the U.K. declined. Of automakers, Volkswagen
VOW, +0.07%
sales improved but its market-leading share fell to 18.1 percent from 18.5 percent; Ford
F, +2.63%
and General Motors
GM, +0.91%
both lifted their market share, and Italian maker Fiat
fia
now has 7.7 percent of the market vs. 7.2 percent a year ago.

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